Practicum Questions / Procedural Information

Q.What are the State Department's new requirements for Student Teaching?
A. The Ohio Department of Education now requires 12 weeks minimum of student teaching, which is more that what we can fit into a 10-11 week quarter. Specific details of attendance requirements will be addressed at your orientation.

- Fall student teaching starts with your assigned district's teachers' first day of school and ends with WSU's Friday of fall term's finals' week. This end date may need to be extended depending on your assigned district's first day of school to ensure a minimum of 12 weeks of student teaching. You must apply on line by the first week of spring quarter. 

- Winter student teaching begins approximately the first week of December and ends with WSU's Friday of winter term's finals' week. You must apply on line by the first week of fall quarter. 

- Spring student teaching begins with a pre-student teaching experience during the December prior (lead teaching for approximately 3 weeks), and wil resume with WSU's spring break and end with your assigned district's teachers' last day of school. You must apply on line by the second week of fall quarter.

Q. What districts do we use to arrange practicum assignments?
A. Practicum assignments through WSU's Dayton Campus are primarily arranged within a 30 mile radius of the Dayton Campus location, unless in a Partner District such as Troy City or Reading Community City (near Cincinnati). Also, assignments in Partner Districts are accommodated FIRST, before venturing out to other placement sites.

Q. What are these official Partner Districts?
A. Dayton City, Fairborn City, Milton Union Exempted Village, Reading Community City, Sugarcreek Local, Trotwood-Madison City, Troy City, and West Carrollton City.

Q. What if I want to do a practicum experience or Student Teaching through Lake Campus?
A. WSU's Lake Campus and Dayton Campus' program offerings are not the same. Undergraduate Early Childhood Education and Graduate Intervention Specialist are the only programs, so far, that are offered in their entirety at Lake Campus. Other program field practicum are permitted to take place through Lake Campus as long as your diversity component of your practicum is covered.

Q. Can I pick the school I want to be assigned to?
A. No, students are not permitted to choose the school they will be assigned to. The Field Office will avoid district locations where you have friends or family members working or attending, along with avoiding district locations where you have attended within the past 10 years. If your situation warrants a special circumstance, please make contact with our office.

Q. What if something happens and I have to cancel my practicum request?
A. If you have submitted an online application for any field practicum and find you need to cancel this request, you must submit something in writing to the Office of Partnerships & Field Experiences, as soon as possible, explaining your change in plans. Feel free to send an email. You will need to complete a NEW practicum application artifact on TK20 by the appropriate deadline, for the next term this field practicum might work with your schedule.

Q. Can I start my assignment early?
A. Yes, you are permitted to begin your practicum assignment early, though ONLY after you have received the appropriate orientation information (Phase I) AND have fingerprint reports on file, but you must continue to attend until the end of WSU's term you signed up for. Extra hours are to your benefit. Phase I practicum students must have attended the Phase I orientation meeting prior to attending their assigned practicum site.

Q. What if I can't get my required hours?
A. If you will be unable to obtain the required number of hours during the term registered, contact our office and let us know. If we are aware of your circumstance we will be willing to work with you. You may be permitted to extend your attendance into final's week or the term immediately following to complete what is required - as long as your Cooperating Teacher approves; If not, you will be required to reapply, re-register and repeat the experience.

Q. What if I don't agree with a grade that has been given for a practicum experience?
A. If you do not agree with a grade that has been given, you must first contact the instructor of record for your practicum registration. If, after speaking with the instructor, you are unsatisfied with the outcome, your next step is to contact the Chairperson of Teacher Education, 310 Allyn Hall.

Q.What grades stand for what?
A. M - Grade in Progress - If a portion of your paperwork is missing, AND you notify our office that your paperwork will be late, you will be given a grade of M, with grade change paperwork to be completed upon receipt of your required paperwork (in its entirety). You have the term immediately following to complete what is required for a passing grade.
     I - Incomplete - If your practicum assignment is incomplete, you will be given an I grade; you have the following term to complete what is required for a passing grade. If this is not done, the I grade will change to an F.
     U - Unsatisfactory - If your paperwork is not submitted and you have not informed us of a problem with completing the requirements, you will receive a grade of U. You have the term immediately following to complete what is required for a passing grade. If this is not done, the U grade will remain and you will have to reapply, re-register and complete the classroom experience successfully for a passing grade. If your cooperating teacher or university supervisor's evaluation of your performance in the classroom reflects unsatisfactory performance, you will receive a grade of U, a concern conference will be held and you will have to reapply, re-register and complete the classroom experience successfully for a passing grade.

Student Teaching Questions

Q. What if I want to waive my Student Teaching requirement?
A. Intervention Specialist Student Teaching can only be waived if the student has had a minimum of two years teaching experience in that specific field. The student must submit their request in writing to the Intervention Specialist program advisor; practicum waiver request form is available through Dr. Renick for Intervention Specialist students requesting to waive student teaching. Discuss specific requirements for this waiver with Dr. Renick.

Q. What if a teacher has invited me back to their classroom for Student Teaching, or requests that I be permitted to stay?
A. Requests are only taken into consideration if made well in advance and in writing (signed by the building Principal and Cooperating Teacher), along with a specific circumstance request form completed by you - the WSU Teacher Candidate. If your program is part of a cohort group, your entire internship year may be arranged as you begin the program. If the Cooperating Teacher of your initial practicum assignment is interested in you staying for the entire timeframe (including student teaching), this same process would apply (letter from the building Principal and Cooperating Teacher, and specific circumstance request form completed by the WSU Teacher Candidate). These requests must be received no later than 5th week of the term immediately preceding the effected term's practicum assignment.

Q. What if something happens and I have to cancel my Student Teaching?
A. If you have submitted an online application for any field practicum and find you need to cancel this request, you must submit something in writing to the Office of Partnerships & Field Experiences, as soon as possible, explaining your change in plans. Feel free to send an email. You will need to complete a NEW practicum application artifact on TK20 by the appropriate deadline, for the next term this field practicum might work with your schedule.

Q. Can I take other classes along with Student Teaching?
A. Undergraduate students: the only other class you are permitted to take with student teaching is ED 440, HPR 445 or EDE 440 (check program requirements). If you feel it necessary to complete an additional course along with student teaching, you must petition to do so - do this early!

Graduate students: are generally permitted to take only one class while Student Teaching. Written approval must come from your program advisor.  Please be advised that while student teaching, this additional course cannot conflict with the teaching day.

Q. When I am ready to register for Student Teaching how do I know which classes and section numbers to register for?
A. You should receive a postcard from your Licensure Advisor to relay exactly what course and section number to register for. If you do not receive this information, feel free to contact your licensure advisor (775-2063 or 775-3092).

Q. How do I sign up for Student Teaching?
A. You sign-up for student teaching by completing the online application by the appropriate deadline, submitting your resume to our office. Visit the link on this web site specific to Student Teaching and review this information.

Student Teaching requirements

Q. What requirements must be met BEFORE I can sign-up for Student Teaching?
A. Your are encouraged to meet with a licensure advisor to clarify Student Teaching requirements for your particular program...
1. Successful completion of pre-requisite coursework - content courses and professional educational courses, obtaining at least the minimum grade allowed. Check your program of study.
2. Maintain the appropriate GPA for your program.

Student Teaching Seminar

Q. What is Student Teaching Seminar?
A. Student Teaching Seminar is where you meet with your assigned program representative, offering certain topics for discussion or an opportunity to discuss what is going on in your classroom and get some feedback. Seminar does NOT have a separate course registration number; this is included with your Student Teaching registration. Discuss specific meeting dates and times with your program advisor.

Urban Diverse Experiences

Q. What schools qualify as Urban?
A. All schools in the following districts qualify as urban diverse:

• Dayton City
• Trotwood Madison City
• Springfield City
• Xenia Community City
• Middletown City

    Though keep in mind that it is the combination of your experiences that provides you diversity.

Licensure Candidates

Q. What are licensure candidates?
A. This is an admission status. Students who already have a degree, but are coming back to be licensed, or adding a new field to their certification or license. There are two different explanations of licensure candidates:

• People who are getting their certification for the first time do Student Teaching.
• People who are getting an additional licensure do a Practicum (if required).

Q. Do they attend Seminar?
A. Yes, if it is their initial licensure.

Practicum

Q. What is a practicum?
A. Practicum is the term used when referring to all field experiences.
Practicum - vs- Student Teaching: Students who already have certification or licensure, but are returning to get licensed in another area (they are not required to complete a full term of student teaching).

Class Numbers

Q. Which classes are field practicum?
A. Early Childhood Education:

• EDE 221 - Phase I, part 1
• EDE 223 - Phase I, part 2
• EDE 225 - Phase I, part 3
• EDE 321 - Phase II, part 1
• EDE 323 - Phase II, part 2
• EDE 419 - Phase III, Student Teaching

K-12 Health Education and Physical Education:

• ED 221 - Phase I
• ED 321 - Phase II
• ED 429 - Phase III, Student Teaching

K-12 Music Education:

• ED 221 - Phase I, part 1
• ED 223 - Phase I, part 2
• ED 429 - Phase III, Student Teaching

Business/Marketing:

• ED 221 - Phase I
• ED 223 - Phase I (ED 221 & ED 223 may be taken concurrently or separately)
• ED 321 - Phase II
• ED 323 - Phase II (ED 321 & ED 323 may be taken concurrently or separately)
• ED 429 - Phase III, Student Teaching

Middle Childhood (MCE), Adolescent/Young Adult (AYA), K-12 Multi Age (MA) Modern Language or Visual Art Education:

• ED 221 - Phase I
• ED 223 - Phase I (ED 221 & ED 223 may be taken concurrently or separately)

    ED 221 & ED 223 are generally completed during the undergraduate Bachelors program.

• ED 612 - Phase I (when not included with the undergraduate Bachelors Program).
• ED 614 - Phase II, part 1
• ED 616 - Phase II, part 2
• ED 641 (MCE), ED 651 (AYA), ED 661 (MA) - Phase III, Student Teaching/Internship